Portable cot



F. J. KELLY PORTABLE COT Aug. 14, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 31, 1949 INVENTOR FRANK J. KELLY Aug. 14, 1951 F, KELLY 2,564,333

PORTABLE COT Filed March 31, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.3

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' 30m 3/ r n r I F -ll|||||||||h. 98 4 /4 Aug. 14, 1951 F. J. KELLY 2,564,333

PORTABLE COT Filed March 31, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR FRANK J. KELLY BY g 9 wmgehz F. J. KELLY PORTABLE COT Aug. 14, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 31, 1949 FIG.7

INVENTOR FRANK J; KELLY Patented Aug. 14, 1951 PORTABLE COT Frank Jr Kelly, Binghamton, N. Y., assignorv to Kelly-Shaw Hydro-Cot Company; Inc., Binghamton, N. Y.', v a corporation of New York Application March 31, 1949, Serial No; 84,615

'9 Claims.

Broadly, thepresent invention relates to a-port able mobile supporting assembly, and in-itsmore specific aspect has reference to a stretcher'or cot assembly of the wheeled type.

I am aware, of course, that numerous Wheeled stretchers and cotsehave heretofore been provided:

for; both ambulance service and undertakers service uses, but the majority of theseprior devices have not been such that the cot could be converted. from. an undertakerscot: toan ambulance cot and vice versa because of the structural details of the cot. The present invention, however, overcomes this undesirable: characteristicand, as will laterbe-morefully described, the cot structure may bereadily transformed; from an undertakers cot to an ambulance cot'by merely addinga back rest and substituting a comfortable mattress forv the thin leatherette mattress.

For ideal operation, a-cot for undertalcers uses should be'so constructedas toeliminate substantially all lifting necessary by the personnel of the.

undertakers establishment when handling: thebody, to be adapted for-use in all types of service cars and be such that it may be? carried or wheeled in any location where it. isnecessary to go for the body.

In connection with a-stretcher or cot. used. for ambulance purposes such as moving invalids, injured or sick persons, there are other problems.

which arise, such as providing comfort for the patient and ease of handling for the operator or attendant of the cot. By virtue'of this-invention, the cot may bemoved directly to the. patients bed, thereby allowing the. patient to be placed directly on. the cot instead of being; first carried to the cot ina chair or litter. Additionally, upon arrival at the receiving ward in ahospital, the cot may be. elevated to examination table height, thereby eliminating further moving of the patient until the examination hasbeen completed which, of course, ismost important because of the: factv that it is sometimes.- dangerous tothe patients life to be moved or handled unduly.

In order to accomplish theforegoing and: other advantageous objects, the invention comprises a tubular framework having wheels at each end thereof supported by legs; mounted for swinging: movement toward and away from the frame. Suitable hydraulic or mechanicalactuating means is associated with the frame and operatively connected withv the leg structure -whereby the proper. actuation of the operating means effects pivotal movement ofthe wheels. Side rails are detachably connected with the frame and a: handle structure is incorporated'at one end Ofi theframe,

- 2 while a foot rest .or. stop formsa part of theropposite end,.the foot rest or stop alsoincludinga pair. of fixed wheels.

By proper. manipulation of. the control means, the pivotally mounted wheels may be elevated. to. a position inapproximately. parallel relationship. to. the frame to enable: the frame to. be. readily lifted and. carried by hand. and facilitate the placing of the. cot'within anambulanceor. other vehicle whereby it. will. take up as. little space. as possible. Moreover, the control means. will enable. the. supporting legs to. be moved. to various. angular positions relativet'o the frame,.thus enabling the supporting surface of the cot to bev adjusted tovarious heights, eliminating in no small measure the handling of the patient, or body, which is-highl'y desirable.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and in the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully, set forth and claimed.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this application, wherein like characters d'enote corresponding parts in the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a; top plan view of' the cot framework. 7

Figure 2 is a side 'elevational view of the cot shown in Figure l, the wheels being in a surfaceengaging position.

Figure 3' is;a view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking-in the direction of'the arrows.

Figure 4' is a fragmental' view, partly in section, showing the mechanism whereby the wheel' sup-- porting" legs are moved about their pivots to theframe.

Figure 5 is a view'taken. along the line 55'of Figure-4; looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6fi's a; side. elevatibnal view showing the wheels in the retracted position whereby the cot may be wheeled by means of the wheels on the foot rest for making: sharp turns around doors andin hallways;

Figure 7 is a fragmental side elevation of one end of: the cot depicting" the manner in which the rail elements may be rotatably mounted on the longitudinal;horizontaltubes.

Figure 8 is a.sectional view. taken along the line" 8-8 of? Figure 7., looking. in' the direction of the arrows.

Figure 9 is. a. detail. view, partly insection, showing the means for securing the rail element" in: the vertical position;

As shown in Figure l, the cot comprises a framework I including a pair of parallel horizontally extending tubes I I which are connected at each end thereof by transverse tubes I2 by means of elbow joints or the like I3. A pair of spaced apart legs I4 are pivotally mounted at their upper ends to each of the transverse tubes I2, as indicated at I5, and the lower end of each leg carries a bifurcated member I6 between the legs of which a wheel II, referably having a resilient tire, is rotatably mounted.

A plurality of spaced vertical standards I8 are conveniently ailixed to each of the longitudinal tubes l I. The upper end of each standard, which may be a sleeve I9, supports a horizontal tube in substantially parallel relationship .to the tube II, but the tube 20 is of somewhat greater length than the tube I I, as clearly shown in Figure 2, and the tubes 20 function as side rails for the cot. In Figures 1 and 3 it can be seen that the tubes 20 are connected at one end by means of a cross tube 2 I, preferably integrally formed therewith, and a tubular section 22 is disposed above the tube 2 I, and each end of the section 22 is downwardly curved, as at 23, the downwardly curved portions being attached to the tube 2|. The section 22 functions as a foot rest and diagonal braces 24 may be secured to the section 22 and the tubes 20 for reinforcing purposes. The opposite or free end of each of the tubes 20 terminates in a handle member 25 which is bent downwardly at a small angle with respect to the tube and is provided with a resilient hand grip 26, for the usual purposes. Furthermore, if desired, rail elements 21 may be attached by welding or the like to the upper portion of each of the tubes 20, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2.

As hereinabove pointed out, one of the important objects of my invention is to provide means whereby the legs I4 and the wheels I I may be moved from a nested position with respect to the frame III, as shown in Figure 6, to a surface-engaging position, as indicated in Figure 2, or to intermediate positions between the nested and fully extended position. In other words, the legs may be moved to and maintained at any desired angular position with respect to the frame in order that the frame may be located at various heights to enable a patient, for example, to be moved easily from the cot to an examination table in the receiving ward of a hospital. To accomplish this end, a tube 28 extends longitudinally of the frame and one end thereof is suitably attached to one of the cross tubes I2, as indicated at 29. The frame may be strengthened or reinforced transversely by a pair of spaced tubular members intermediate the cross tubes I2, and the tube 28 is secured to a supporting element 3| carried by one of the tubes 30. A similar tube 28' is secured to the other of the cross tubes I2 as shown at 29 and to the tubular member 30 as indicated at 31'. A sleeve 32 encircles the tubes 28 and 28' for sliding movement thereon, and the upper end of a pair of diagonally extending braces 33 is pivotally attached to the sleeve, as shown at 34. The lower ends of the braces 33 are secured, as shown at 35, to a cross tube 36 which carries at each outer end thereof a caster wheel 3! and a casting 3B isattached to each of the legs I4 and is provided with a right angled extension 39 secured to the cross tube. This arrangement is such that when the legs I4 are in their nested position with respect to the frame III, the casters 3! will be at 4 approximately right angles to the frame and the frame may be easily moved along a floor.

A cylinder 40, connected with a suitable source of pressure, is supported below the longitudinally extending tubes II by means of an L-shaped bracket 4I', one leg of which is secured to the cylinder while the other leg is attached to the rod 28. A piston (not shown) having a piston rod 4| is connected to the sleeve 32 at the pivot connection 34, as indicated at 42 and hence the hydraulic unit is supported by bracket 4| and pivot 42. A helical spring 42 surrounds the tube 28 intermediate the sleeve and the connection 29' on the cross tube I2. The admission of pressure into the cylinder 40 is actuated by a control designated generally 43'. A rack 44 is connected with the sleeve 32 at the foot end of the frame and meshes with a gear 45 journaled in a box 43 carried by a supporting strip 41, each end of which is attached to the bearings 3| and 3| in any convenient manner. A second rack 48 is secured to the opposite sleeve 32 and meshes with the gear 45. Hence, it can be seen that if pressure is admitted into the cylinder, the piston rod will be moved outwardly and, therefore likewise move the sleeve 32 at the foot end outwardly, which movement will cause downward movement of the legs I4 about their pivots to the cross tubes by virtue of the connection between the legs and the braces 33 and at the end of the stroke engages spring 42' just before the legs reach the extended position. Obviously, this movement of the sleeve 32 will move the rack 44 in the same direction and rotate the gear 45 which will simultaneously move the rack 48 in the opposite direction, and the sleeve 32 at the head end of the frame will cause the legs I4 at that end to move downwardly about their pivots to the cross tubes so that the wheels I! will engage the supporting surface. Of course the amount of pivotal movement of the legs can be accurately controlled by the operator 43, and the pressure can be released by the manipulation of the release device 50.

It will, of course, be understood that a suitable mattress or the like is disposed upon the frame I0 and will be supported by the longitudinal tubes 20, and any convenient means may be employed to maintain the mattress properly supported on the tubes.

In employing the cot for undertakers use, a thin leatherette mattress may be disposed upon the frame. After the body has been disposed upon the frame, it is strapped in position and the cot may be either wheeled on the wheels I! or the legs may be folded by releasing the hydraulic pressure through manipulation of the release 50, whereupon the cot may be picked up and carried manually, or it may be Wheeled by means of wheels 52 supported by the tubes 20 at the foot end of the frame II], which arrangement enables the cot to make very sharp turns around doors or in hallways. If, however, the distance to be travelled is a substantial one, it is more advisable to actuate the hydraulic control 43 to lower the.

s s-eases is merely necessary to add a; back rest. to the frame'and'employ a comfortable cotton mattress indieu of the thin leatherette'm'attress; BY virtue of the" fact that the legs maybe fold'editoa com pact position relative to the frame,.the1cot may be taken directly to the patients bed, which. isia marked improvement over current practices, since it will enable the patient to be placed directly upon the cot, rather than being carried downstairs in a chair or canvas litter.. The cot maybe either moved with the wheels l1. in a lowered position or it may be carried, depending; of course, uponthe particular problem encountered.

The present invention eliminates, to a largedegree, any great amount of'h'and'lihg of the patient which is most desirable; and by'virtue of the hydraulic operation of 'thewheels, provides considerable comfort forthe patient and also ease of handling for the attendants;

In Figures '7 to 9, inclusive, I have shown means whereby the rail elements are rotatablymounted on the horizontal tube '20 so that they" may be swung downwardly outof the way during the examination of a patient.

It will be noted that a pairof collars. cmare.

secured to the horizontal tubev by means: of

pins 6|, and one end of a casting 62 abuts the collar 60 while the opposite end engages the sleeve l9. The casting 62 has a longitudinal bore 63 through which the tube 20 extends and is formed with a protuberance 64 at right angles to the bore, the protuberance being provided with a socket 65. Rail element 66 is downturned at each end thereof and each downturned end is fitted within the socket 65.

The casting 62 also includes a bore 61 in which a latch 68 is slidably mounted. The outer end of the bore 61 is in alinement with an aperture 69 formed in the collar 60, and an operating handle 10 conveniently attached to the latch 68 extends upwardly through an elongated slot H in the upper face of the casting 62. A helical spring I2 is located within the bore 61 so that one end thereof bears against the end of the bore while the opposite end engages the inner end of the latch 68, thus maintaining the latch in the position shown in Figure 9. In other Words, the

latch will normally maintain the rail element 66 in the vertical position, since the end of the latch projects into the aperture 69 on the collar 60.

To swing the rail elements downwardly, each of the operating handles H1 is moved inwardly whereby the latch 68 is moved inwardly against the action of the spring I2, and when each latch 68 is withdrawn from each aperture 69, the rail element may be moved downwardly 180 to the position shown in Figure 8. In order that the rail element will be properly nested with respect to the horizontally extending tubes II, it can be seen that each end of the rail is bowed or curved inwardly at 13 and the rail element 66 will assume the position shown in the dash lines of Figure 8 when in the lowered position.

The invention is not to be confined to any strict conformity with the showing in the drawings, but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A portable cot comprising a frame including spaced parallel longitudinal members, a transverse member connecting the ends of said longitudinal members, a pair of legs pivotally mounted to: each of said transverse members, a wheelicarried by each of'said legsbracing means extending transversely of the longitudinally extending members and connected to said members intermediate the ends thereof, a guideelement secured to said bracing means and to one of said transverse members; a second guide element secured to said bracing meansand to the other of said transverse members, said guide elements I beingparallel tothe longitudinally extending members, a sleeve mounted on each of said guide elements, aconnection between each of-\sai'd sleevesand the said wheel supporting legs, a drive connection between each of said sleeves, and means to move one of said sleeves along its guide element toeffect pivotal movement of the wheel supporting legs; said drive connection imparting simultaneous pivotal movement to the other of said wheel supporting legs.

2. A portable'cot comprising a frame including spaced parallel longitudinal'members, a transverse'member-connecting the ends of said longitudinal members, a pairof legs pivotally mounted to each of said transverse members, a wheel car ried by eachofsaid legs, bracing means extending, transversely of the longitudinally extending members and connected to saidmembers intermediate the ends thereof, a guide element secured to said bracing means and to one of said transverse members, a second guide element secured to said bracing means and to the other of said transverse members, said guide elements being parallel to the longitudinally extending members, a sleeve mounted on each of said guide elements, a connection between each of said sleeves and the said wheel supporting legs, a rack associated with one of said slevees, a pinion meshing with said rack, a second rack meshing with the pinion and connected to the other of said sleeves, and means to move one of said sleeves along its guide element to effect pivotal movement of the wheel supporting legs, said first mentioned rack, pinion and second mentioned rack effecting movement of the other of said sleeves to simultaneously move the wheel supporting legs about its pivot.

3. A cot as claimed in claim 2 wherein hydraulically operated means effects movement of one of said sleeves.

4. A cot as claimed in claim 1 wherein wheels are carried by the connections between the sleeves and the wheel supporting legs for providing surface engaging members when said supporting legs are moved upwardly about their pivots to the transverse members.

5. A cot as claimed in claim 2 wherein wheels are carriedZ by the connections between the sleeves and the Wheel supporting legs for providing surface engaging members when said supporting legs are moved upwardly about their pivots to the transverse members.

6. A portable cot of the character described comprising spaced parallel longitudinal members, a transverse member connecting the free ends of said longitudinal members, wheels secured to said transverse members, additional spaced parallel longitudinal member supported above said first named longitudinal members, spaced supports rotatably mounted on said second named longitudinal members, a side rail attached to said spaced supports, a pair of collars fixed on the second named longitudinal members, each collar being in facial engagement with each spaced support, each of said collars being provided with an aperture there and a spring-pressed latch mounted within said spaced support normally lodged in the aperture in the collar to prevent rotation of the support relative to the longitudinal member.

7. A portable cot as claimed in claim 6 wherein the spring-pressed latch is mounted within the spaced support above and in parallel relation to the longitudinal member.

8. A portable cot, spaced parallel longitudinal members, a transverse member connecting the ends of the longitudinal members, wheel supporting legs pivotally mounted to each of the transverse members, a guide element supported in parallel relation to the longitudinal members and connected at one end to one of the transverse members, a second guide element supported in parallel relation to the longitudinal members and operatively connected to the other of said transverse members, a sleeve slidably mounted on each of said guide elements, means connecting each of the said sleeves and the wheel supporting legs, a drive connection between each of the sleeves, and means to slide one of the sleeves along its guide element to effect pivotal movement of the wheel supporting legs, the said drive connection imparting simultaneous pivotal movement to the other of said wheel supporting legs.

9. A portable cot as claimed in claim 8 wherein the drive connection between the slidable sleeves includes a rack connected with one of the sleeves, a pinion meshing with the rack, and a second rack meshing with the pinion and operatively connected to the other of said sleeves.

FRANK J. KELLY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 451,597 Magnussan May 5, 1891 1,045,120 Burroughs Nov. 26, 1912 1,110,838 Taylor Sept. 15, 1914 1,169,255 Graham Jan. 25, 1916 1,204,791 Kyle Nov. 14, 1916 1,746,950 Leonard Feb. 11, 1930 2,304,622 Barrett Dec. 8, 1942 2,360,453 Sullivan et a1 Oct. 17, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 403,108 Germany Sept. 29, 1924 

